MANILA – With cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on a downward trend, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is looking to resume the 2021-2022 Governors’ Cup elimination round matches by the first week of February.
The Board of Governors unanimously agreed to resume the matches but will not allow fans inside the playing venue yet, according to the league in an advisory released on Monday afternoon.
When the season-ending conference resumes, matches will be held at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and nares Center in Antipolo
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, in a separate interview, said the league is waiting for the local government units’ (LGUs) go-signal with the aid of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for teams to carry on with their scrimmages.
According to Marcial, his office and MMDA headed by Chairman Benhur Abalos are waiting to hear from a total of six LGUs, namely Quezon City, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and San Juan.
“Humingi ako ng tulong through Chairman Abalos kasi ‘pag nag-practice at nag-scrimmage, sas anim na cities tayo magpapaalam,” Marcial told Tiebreaker Times. “‘Pag okay na sila, magsisimula tayo.”
Marcial added that, once a date has been set for the scrimmages, the league will give its member teams 10 days to prepare for the season resumption.
He also said, “Siguro in a couple of weeks baka pwede na ‘yung fans. Pero as of now, wala. Ang inaayos ko muna, makalaro tayo.”
The PBA voluntarily stopped the Governors’ Cup due to the spike in COVID-19 infections hatt began before the New Year and forced the national government to place the nation’s capital under Alert Level 3./PN
